DEKALB — Harlem discus thrower Audi Nichol is a first-time state track and field qualifier.

That’s a great accomplishment for the senior, who back in February underwent surgery on her skull because of a brain condition called Chiari Malformations, which are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. Hand coordination and fine motor skills might be affected.

Before her diagnosis and later surgery, Nichol suffered with vision and balance problems and headaches. After her surgery, doctors weren’t sure she should throw again because of possible injury.

“That wasn’t going to happen,” said Nichol, who despite missing half of the indoor track season because of rehab, worked her back to throwing again and now is a state qualifier. She threw 124 feet, 2 inches to finish second at Thursday’s Class 3A DeKalb Sectional. The first- and second-place finishers in each event or those that equaled or surpassed the qualifying standard in the sectional finals qualify for next weekend’s state meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

“I’m excited,” Nichol said. “It wasn’t expected. So, after everything I’ve been through, I’m just relieved and happy for this — especially being a senior and this being my last year.”

Nichol’s performance paced a solid effort for the Huskies overall at the meet. Harlem, which finished ninth with 30 points, had its 800 relay and Allison Hartman in the 800 run (sixth, 2:19.38), all qualify for state. The 800 relay team of Anisa Talic, Breanne Henderson, Haylin Bade and Jordynn Warren finished second at 1:47.94.

“It was a PR (personal record) for them and an unexpected finish for them since they came in seeded fifth,” Harlem first-year coach Scott Sholl said. “This was a big meet and they all brought their ‘A’ game.”

The Lutzow sisters of Belvidere North came through big in the distance races. Carley Lutzow, a junior, won the 3,200 run at 11:10.38 and later finished fifth in the 1,600 (5:11.99) to qualify for state for the first time. She is joined by her younger sister, Jenna, who qualified for state in the 800 run (third, 2:16.75) and in the 1,600 (third, 5:09.89).

“It’s great to go to state for the first time with my sister and to qualify in the same race together,” Jenna Lutzow, a freshman, said.

Another North freshman, Gabrielle Napper, qualified in the 100-meter run (second, 12:71) to become the first Blue Thunder girl to go to state in the sprints.

“It was definitely a goal of mine to go to state,” said Napper, who also competed in the high jump and 200 and 400.

Page 2 of 2 - Hononegah, which had the highest area team showing with 38 points for seventh, had its 1,600 relay and Patrice Jones (first in the long jump at 17-11.75) and Nicky Althoff (fifth in the 800 at 2:18.92), all qualify for the state meet. Jones and Althoff along with Amy Dal Santo and Breanna Pierson made up that 1,600 relay that finished first at 4:01.04, surpassing the state cut time of 4:04.24.

East’s Grace Bitangalo qualified for state on her final attempt at 17-2 to finish second in the long jump.

“My teammates and my coaches really encouraged me and I am so happy,” she Bitangalo said.

Auburn’s Janelle Ferguson will compete at state in the 1,600 run with her fourth-place sectional finish at 5:11.43.